Ray was a double-winner for the Skyhawks with points at No. 3 doubles and No. 5 singles today.

Panthers make double edge stand with singles comeback to advance

EASTON, Mass. (May 1, 2017) – Fourth-seeded Adelphi University notched its third 5-4 triumph over fifth-seeded Stonehill College this year to advance in first round action of the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Tournament at Charles Watt Tennis Courts today.

Adelphi (14-6, 8-4 NE10) advances to tomorrow's second round to face top-seeded New York Institute of Technology (15-0, 6-0 ECC), ranked No. 33 in the most recent Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II rankings, at Watt Courts at 11 a.m. Stonehill, which captured the NE10 regular season title and earned its 11th NCAA Tournament bid, sees its season come to a close with a 14-7 record overall, including 11-1 in the NE10.

Adelphi used a 2-1 edge after doubles play, but needed to rally from a 4-2 deficit at one point during singles action to advance, including a pair of three-set triumphs to seal the win. Junior Rebecca Fakas (Little Neck, New York/Benjamin N. Cardozo), the 16th-ranked singles player in the East Region, led three double-winners for the Panthers, rallying from a break down in the third set to claim a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 triumph over Stonehill junior Victoria Barbetta (Wesley Chapel, Florida/Saddlebrook Prep) at No. 1 singles. She and sophomore Karen Serina (East Islip, New York/East Islip), the fourth-ranked doubles team in the region, added an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles for the Panthers.

Serina also claimed a three-set win at No. 4 singles against Stonehill junior Emma Prinos (Foxboro, Massachusetts/Foxboro) with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 triumph that knotted the match at 4-4 before Fakas delivered the winning point. Sophomore Samantha Perri (Floral Park, New York/Floral Park Memorial) rounded out the Panthers double-winners with her 6-2, 6-2 decision at No. 3 singles over sophomore Nicole Downey (Groveland, Massachusetts/Pentucket Regional) for their first singles point to start the rally. Perri and junior Elizabeth Kallenberg (Port Washington, New York/Paul D. Schreiber) teamed up for an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles.

Freshman Caroline Ray (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) was a double-winner for Stonehill as she teamed up with Prinos for an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles to give the Skyhawks an early edge in doubles play. Ray followed that up with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles against Adelphi junior Vanja Savic (Woodside, New York/Beacon School). Classmate Annelise Howick (Jacksonville, Florida/Creekside) sparked Stonehill's run of three straight singles wins to put it on the brink of the second round with her 6-0, 6-0 sweep of freshman Daniella Cattabiani (Bayside, New York/Bayside) at No. 6 singles. Freshman Alexandra Vo (Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania/Nazareth Academy), the NE10 Rookie of the Year, added a point at No. 2 singles for the Skyhawks.